Deutsche Telekom’s Incubator Launches IoT Bootcamp. Because Hardware.

A whole host of connected hardware accelerators have cropped up in the last year in Europe and beyond, and now ￼￼￼hub:raum, Deutsche Telekom’s incubator, wants in on the action. It’s running a three-day Internet of Things (IoT) “bootcamp” in Berlin next month and is currently inviting hopeful IoT startups from anywhere in the world to apply.

Specifically, the telco is on the hunt for early-stage companies operating in the following three categories: smart home, consumer electronics and hardware; wearables and mobile; and B2B commercial applications. 12 startups will be picked in total for which Deutsche Telekom will cover travel expenses and accommodation, while the eventual winning startup, chosen on the final day, will be awarded a cash prize of €10,000.

The three-day bootcamp runs from April 6–8 and lines up as follows: a networking dinner on the first night; pitching on day two and more networking with industry experts, including those from ￼Deutsche Telekom; and a final day of investor “speed dating” and the award ceremony for the winning IoT startup.

Most recently Buildit launched as a new 3 month accelerator program based in Estonia’s Tartu Science Park. Other examples include China-based Haxlr8r; Flextronics’ backed Lab IX; Startupbootcamp run High Tech XL, the U.K.-based Springboard IoT accelerator (now merged with TechStars); and a joint R/GA and Techstars programme aimed specifically at accelerating connected devices, to name a few.

It also comes at a time when the UK (amongst others) appears to be jostling for IoT relevance. Just this week, the U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron — breathlessly describing the IoT era as having the potential to usher in a new “industrial revolution” — announced an additional £45 million in funding for research in areas linked to the Internet of Things, taking the total pot of taxpayer cash sloshing around the U.K. for helping to develop connected devices to £73 million.